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Today, I wrote this letter to the main character in my new middle grade novel-in-verse. It is a very personal story but one I need to tell. I’ve included an excerpt from my manuscript as well.
The paper card
Name: Nat
Height: 4’11”
Weight: ____
That one blank space
Glaring me
In the
Face.
“May I
Go
To the
Bathroom?”
I ask
Mr. T.
Nurse Smith
Calls out,
“There’s one
Right there.”
And points five feet away.
But a kindergartener saves the day.
Flies in
Just then
And slams the door
Shut.
“5th grade hallway,”
Mr. T says,
Busy with Joel and Dante
Arguing
Over who goes first
To get measured.
I speed-walk
Out of that
Cramped room
With my classmates
Laughing
And talking
As they wait
Not bothered
At all.
Not like me
Running from
here.
The scale.
And my number
Being announced
For all to
Hear.
My number
My weight
Filling that
Blank space
And the room with the
Fear
Of all my classmates waiting to hear.
So speed-walking
Turns into a
Run
And I’m out of breath
When I reach the girls bathroom.
Slamming the metal door
Feels
Like freedom.
Locking it
Feels like
Safety.
Away from that cramped room.
Away from
All the not-worried kids
holding their cards.
Mine
Is now rolled up
Curved edges
round.
Like me.
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I would love to connect with you on Twitter! I am: @litdanak HAPPY SLICING, everyone! 💛💛💛